Anchored in Education

I truly cherish and value every guest. So when I have the opportunity to have a guest return, I am beyond thrilled. You might remember Peg from our earlier conversation when we talked about productive struggle and the power of saying not yet. Peg joins Anchored in Education again today to talk about how we can clear the path for developing learners while promoting essential literacy skills. In fact, that's the name of her new book that was published just this month.

Clearing the Path for Developing Learners: Essential Literacy Skills to Support Achievement in Every Content Area is a book that came about after educators in Peg's district began breaking down what essential literacy skills made their appears in standards, curriculum, and other areas. While I'll let her talk more about these seven essential skills, I will say that Peg was recently a guest speaker for my Curriculum and Instructional Leadership course discussing these very skills. I think you will find a lot of applications in what Peg is discussing along with the usefulness her new book can provide districts.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Peg.

One day an email landed in my inbox recommending today's guest. The email featured the book Moral Code, written by today's guest Lois Melbourne and her husband Ross. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as it is a sci-fi thriller that features the powerful implications of AI. Which, AI seems to dominating our headlines in such a way that soon we won't be using the word sci-fi in front of the word thriller.

But as I always do, in my research of Lois, I found out that she stays quite busy with several ventures in the areas of education and students. Today she is going to talk about how we can evolve as lifelong learners, the importance of career education, promoting women in STEM, and of course, Moral Code.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Lois.

I think of a lot of books I enjoyed reading as a child. The Boxcar Children. Fudge. The Goosebump Series. I could get lost in these books because I felt so connected to the characters. Dare I say, I identified with them? Yes, I could definitely say that because I often did. Which is why I never considered that many grow up not getting to say the same thing.

My guest today is one of them. Shetal Shah has been in and around education for many years. One thing she noticed was the lack of books in the classroom featuring Indian or Indian-American women like herself. As a former history teacher at an all girls school, Shetal witnessed how curriculum and literature inclusive of women from diverse backgrounds can have a positive impact on girls' self-esteem, identity development, and belonging. She knew what she had to do: She decided to write her own book.

She chose the Hindi word Shakti for the title because it means feminine energy and strength, power, and a force to be reckoned with. I am excited to welcome Shetal today to talk more about her book Shakti Girls: Poems of Inspiring Indian Women, and why we need to see a more inclusive curriculum of many cultures.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Shetal.

Last week, Tracy Badua joined us to talk about her book This is Not A Personal Statement. That conversation highlighted the pressures that students often feel in life, especially academic, and the extremes they will sometimes go to. It was a relevant conversation for us to remember not just in support of students, but for us as adults as well. When we finished the conversation, Tracy mentioned she had another book coming out on May 9. It's called The Takeout.

She sent me a preview copy and while I was reading it I realized just how often what she was writing about happens. I'm in the world of academia, so I live in a world of citing sources. But what happens when someone steals your idea for their gain without ever giving you credit? This is just one of so many different themes Tracy covers in The Takeout. I knew she had to come back to talk about this as well.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Tracy.

Have you ever had a setback in life? I'm sure we all have. How did you handle it? Grin and bear it; trying hard next time? Or forging your way through using lies and deception so no one would know of your shortcomings? As crazy as it may seem, many resort the latter when faced with such a dilemma. Our guest today is Tracy Badua, author of This is Not A Personal Statement, a work of fiction that was inspired by actual events. Tracy's book actually highlights a common problem when it comes to students facing pressures and stress in academics.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Tracy.

Have you ever wondered how to start a podcast where you know you're going to say something that some will find offensive? No? Just me. Alright. Let me start by saying I'm a fan of baseball. While I don't follow the major leagues closely any more, I can often be found at minor league games throughout the United States each summer. But what I really can't stand is when someone says, "So and So broke an unwritten rule."

An unwritten rule in baseball is not a rule. It is more of a behavioral constraint that is imposed on players that are not typically voiced or written down. Here's the thing: Who came up with the unwritten rules and who continues to hand them down to generation after generation of players?

By now you're probably asking, does this rant have anything to do with today's topic? Yes, way more than you think. My guest today is Margaret Ghielmetti. Margaret penned Brave(ish): A Memoir of a Recovering Perfectionist. In her book, she talks about the Family Handbook. The family handbook is actually something we most likely all are aware of but don't physically have. Guess what? It's the unwritten rules we've been taught to abide by.

When Margaret and I first began communicating I told her how there are unwritten rules in teaching. Maybe they are practices and habits we do because that is how we were taught, or what we witnessed growing up. And while many times they aren't bad "rules," they can often hinder us. We are going to find out how today.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Margaret.

My guest today spoke to the Illinois Association for School Administrators conference in the Fall of 2022. I wasn't in attendance, but I knew his keynote was powerful when my Twitter feed began going crazy with overwhelmingly positive feedback. It just so happened that I had an interview scheduled the next day with frequent Anchored in Education guest, Charley Cass. Charley joined the recording from his hotel room where he gave an outstanding review of the talk and said he'd make a good guest.

I started researching, and what I found was incredible. It wasn't that my guest today was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. It wasn't the amazing stories he had of his minor league playing days. It was his message that he shares all over the world. He has spoken at some of the largest companies and organizations. He speaks at schools in front of thousands of students. He is an avid writer, publishing three children's books with other works on the way.

He is also on a quest to end racism. He has a powerful message of love is greater than hate. And it stemmed from the tragic shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015. Of the nine victims, one of them was the mother of our guest today, Chris Singleton. I find his message to not only be timely, but ever much needed.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Chris.

A few months back I was given a list of potential guests that consisted of about a half dozen names. It was up to me to research each name and determine how they fit in the Anchored in Education platform. One of the names was Melinda Wenner Moyer. I put the name into a search and discovered that she was a journalist with a particular interest in parenting, science, and medicine. The next line I read said she was the author of the book How to Raise Kids who Aren't Assholes: Science-based Strategies for Better Parenting, from Tots to Teens. My search stopped immediately and instead shifted to how I can purchase this book.

A couple of days later I was engrossed in Melinda's book and realized I had to get her onto the podcast. Melinda readily agreed, but her first thought was she wasn't a teacher. But in reading the book I could already see how this book would benefit educators, parents, soon to be parents, or, in short, everyone. I finished reading the book towards the end of 2022 and it has yet to make it to my bookshelf because I keep opening it to re-read sections. Today she joins us to talk more about the book and the implications for how her book can help educators and parents alike, find research proven strategies to better assist children.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Melinda.

Back in the fall of 2022 I received a message from Efraín Martínez asking if I would like to be a guest on his podcast, Wisdom and Productivity. I agreed under the condition that he would one day join me on Anchored in Education. And while today is that day, I wanted to give you a little background on why I was so excited to host Efraín. He has an incredible story. One that is riddled with ups and downs, wins and losses, happiness and tears.

In my research before putting together an episode, I found captivating articles by major news outlets that had Efraín as the focal point sharing candidly the struggles and successes that have helped define who he is as a person and a leader. I think many times we share similar stories but are afraid to share them for the fear of what others will think.

And then there is the podcast he hosts, Wisdom and Productivity. A simple concept that approaches each episode in the same way and yet produces fresh content with each episode. I can learn so much from Wisdom and Productivity and the man behind the microphone, and it is my opinion, that you can too.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about Efraín.

I am fortunate to be able to devote time to producing a quality podcast that is informative, engaging, and entertaining. To celebrate the 100th episodes, I've asked former guest, and friend, Chris Briggs-Hale to take over as the host. Listen as we explore what makes Anchored in Education what it is. We dive deep into the why behind this podcast.

After you listen to today's episode, go to www.escottengland.com and click on the Podcast tab at the top to find today's episode page and read more about our host, Chris Briggs-Hale, as well as find out how to follow him and the great things he is doing.